Using VR to Recruit and Retain New Generation Employees

As millennial and Gen Z workers search for the next best job opportunity, companies utilizing VR technology can entice them to join and potentially stay for a longer period, says Nicky Garcea, co-founder and chief customer officer at Cappfinity.

With many early-career professionals continuing to fuel the Great Resignation, companies are searching for ways to hire and retain new talent. Gen Z and millennials are demanding more salary, growth, and development from their employers. Gen Z and millennial talent are also the most likely to switch jobs, scoring bigger pay increases as they transition from employer to employer. According to the World Economic Forum, Gen Z will make up around 27%Opens a new window of the workforce by 2025, so it is crucial for hiring managers to think strategically about how they plan to recruit–and, more importantly, retain–this demographic now.  

To that end, virtual reality (VR) is quickly becoming integral to the hiring, onboarding, and employee engagement processes. While VR is often considered recreational and primarily used for gaming, recruiters and learning and development specialists realize it is also an effective tool for connecting with digital natives, such as millennials and Gen Z, allowing for a more mutually beneficial workplace experience. VR can assist with onboarding, training, job simulations, employee development programs, and more. Rather than have the most digitally active generations complete traditional training modules, why not incorporate some creativity and deliver an experience in the workplace they will likely never forget?

VR provides users with truly immersive, highly memorable experiences. Talent acquisition leaders can use VR for recruiting and development to showcase company culture and enhance the onboarding experience. As millennial and Gen Z workers search for the next best job opportunity, companies utilizing VR technology can entice them to join and potentially stay for a longer period.    

Learning by Doing 

HR managers can enhance a candidate’s experience by giving them early insight into what working a job would look like through realistic VR work simulation. According to a new surveyOpens a new window conducted for the Wall Street Journal by Cappfinity and YouGov, one in four Gen Z and millennial job seekers would like to showcase their abilities and how they approach tasks to their hiring managers. Job simulation with VR allows recruiters to see how candidates approach problem-solving and provide immediate insight into how a potential hire interacts in that environment. VR job simulation also provides an opportunity to see a candidate’s strengths, allowing one to compare them to the role’s core competencies for a more informed hiring decision. 

VR is a creative, innovative way to engage employees during the recruitment process and throughout their time at a company. HR managers can utilize VR to engage with talent immediately after an offer has been accepted. For example, employees can begin onboarding, complete training, take virtual tours of global and regional offices, and meet the leadership team and colleagues.  

Through initial VR assessments, hiring managers can pick up on an employee’s strengths and utilize them in the workplace. When professionals use their strengths at work, they are more confident and more likely to achieve their goals. According to recent researchOpens a new window , more than 52% of Americans who use their strengths at work for three hours a day or less report feeling stressed. However, this number falls to 36% for those using their strengths for ten or more hours a day. Finding out an employee’s strengths early in the hiring process through VR training and ensuring those strengths are utilized as the employee continues working can mean a world of difference regarding a company’s retention rates. 

Employee Engagement

Along with onboarding and training, VR can improve employee engagement by providing them with direct access to virtual events where they can engage with their colleagues and company leaders. According to a pollOpens a new window of over 2,000 employees conducted by the Harvard Business Review, two-thirds of remote workers are not engaged. A third of respondents also stated that they never get face time with their colleagues. Employee engagement is crucial when retaining staff; however, with many companies shifting to remote or hybrid workplaces, maintaining engagement has never been more of a challenge. Some have been utilizing creative VR solutions to show employees that they are committed to providing a next-level work-from-home experience. 

For example, Accenture sent out thousands of VR headsets to its new employees as part of a remote onboarding program. The consulting firm stated that they are using VR to replicate the social aspect of an in-person office environment while preserving the remote work environment that many have grown accustomed to. Additionally, Ernst & Young conducted a five-week VR internship pilot that allowed interns to gain insight into what working at the company would be like. Through VR, Ernst & Young provided immersive experiences for the interns that allowed them to gain access to situations they may normally not have access to due to confidentiality agreements, such as client meetings. The Ernst & Young VR internship also supports the intern’s development and can prepare them for a future role at the company.

See More: How Virtual Reality Works to Help Create a More Inclusive Workplace

The Future of VR for Learning and Development

To stand out from all the other companies vying for millennials’ and Gen Z’s attention, companies should look at adopting VR technology to assist in their recruitment and retention efforts. VR provides immersive experiences for employees who showcase their problem-solving skills while helping their employer identify their strengths and use them in the future. With the growth of remote work, VR can also give millennials, and Gen Z much-needed face-to-face experiences while providing them with the comfort and flexibility of a remote work environment. While VR might not be a one-size-fits-all recruitment solution, it has already been an invaluable tool in effectively and efficiently recruiting, onboarding, and engaging early-career employees. The possibilities of using VR for talent acquisition and talent development are endless. When recruiting and developing VR applications are offered to millennial and Gen Z talent, these immersive experiences are unique and unforgettable.

Why do you think VR is becoming an integral part of recruiting and onboarding process? Share with us on FacebookOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , and LinkedInOpens a new window . We’d love to know!

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